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Upside-Down Town
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In this activity, learners explore ray optics. Learners discover that they can use a magnifying glass to create an upside-down image.

Fading Dot
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In this activity, learners play with a fuzzy-colored dot that has no distinct edges seems to disappear. As learners stare at the dot, its color appears to blend with the colors surrounding it.

Experiencing Parallax With Your Thumb
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In this activity, learners investigate parallax, a method used to measure distances to stars and planets in the solar system.

Penny Cup Game
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In this optics activity, learners conduct an experiment to find out why two eyes are better than one!

Peripheral Vision
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In this optics activity, learners conduct an experiment to explore peripheral vision. Learners collect data about their ability to see shapes, colors, or letters using their peripheral vision.

Disappearing Glass Rods
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In this optics activity, learners discover how they can make glass objects "disappear." Learners submerge glass objects like stirring rods into a beaker of Wesson™ oil to explore how the principles of

Periscope
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In this activity, learners construct a device that allows them to look over ledges or around corners.

Color Spy
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In this activity (16th on the page), learners play a variation of the "I Spy" game to explore color. Learners work in teams with each team assigned a color.

Phenakistascope
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In this optics activity, learners build an animation tool to make mini movies. When you spin a phenakistascope, the pictures move so quickly that your eyes and brain can't separate the images.

Magic Disc
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In this activity, learners create an optical illusion by spinning two attached cups. A round ball seems to magically appear when the cups spin.

Fun with Flatware: Little Experiments to Try at the Dinner Table
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This is a series of three quick science activities to do with a spoon, knife, and fork. In the first two activities, learners use the flatware to explore optics, mirrors, reflection, and distortion.

Color Vision
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In this online activity, learners make a whole rainbow by mixing red, green, and blue light. They can change the wavelength of a monochromatic beam or they can filter white light.

Depth Perception
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In this easy demonstration (3rd on the page), learners explore depth perception by conducting a test with two pencils.

Arrows
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In this activity, learners surprise their eyes with an optical illusion involving arrows made out of pipe cleaners.

Seeing in the Dark
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In this activity (17th on the page), learners investigate why you cannot see colors in dim light.

Shifting Backgrounds, Shifting Images
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In this quick activity/demonstration (5th on the page), learners explore depth perception.

Thaumatrope
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In this activity, learners make an optical illusion toy from the 1800s to explore persistence of vision.

Pinhole Magnifier
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In this activity related to light and perception, learners use a pinhole in an index card as a magnifying glass to help their eye focus on a nearby object.

Tiny Pants Photo Challenge
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In this activity, learners use a simple trick of perspective to dress friends in tiny cutout clothing. Learners make tiny pants out of card stock and tape them to the end of a stick.

Your Blind Spot
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In this activity, learners will explore how their own eyes work by experimenting with their photoreceptors.